Winter Tire review
 

I know it's not mid-October but, it is still October so, while not exactly on time I am close enough .....

so, here goes

High Performance winter tires

These tires are designed to meet the needs of winter driving on Performance vehicles and are available in the low profile sizes used as Original Equipment on cars and light trucks. They trade a little ice and snow traction for enhanced handling and high speed capability. Due to their unique tread compounds and handling capabilities these tires must be used in sets of four.

snow and ice traction
Blizzak LM22
Blizzak LM25
Dunlop Winter Sport M3
Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2
Pirelli Sotto Zero
Yokohama AVS Winter
Pirelli W210 Snow Sport
Pirelli W240 Snow Sport
Winter Contact TS790

dry/wet traction and steering response
Pirelli W240 Snow Sport
Pirelli W210 Snow Sport
Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2
Blizzak LM25
Pirelli Sotto Zero
Dunlop Winter Sport M3
Yokohama AVS Winter
Blizzak LM22
Winter Contact TS790

Best blend of winter traction/dry grip and ride quality
Dunlop Winter Sport M3
Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2
Blizzak LM25
Pirelli W240 Snow Sport
Pirelli W210 Snow Sport
Blizzak LM22
Pirelli Sotto Zero
Yokohama AVS Winter
Winter Contact TS790

Studless Winter tires
These tires feature the latest in tread design and compound technology to provide winter traction for cars and light trucks without the inconvenience of using metal tire studs. They trade a little handling and high speed capability for excellent ice and snow traction. Due to their unique tread compounds and handling capabilities these tires must be used in sets of four.

snow and ice grip
Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50
Dunlop Graspic DS-2
Michelin X-Ice
Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice

dry and wet traction
Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice
Michelin X-Ice
Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50
Dunlop Graspic DS-2

blend of traction and ride quality
Michelin X-Ice
Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice
Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50
Dunlop Graspic DS-2



with all of that said there are a couple of additional notes

#1.) DO NOT USE THE BLIZZAK WS50 ON A MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLE WITH TRACTION CONTROL

#2.) same goes for the Dunlop Graspic DS2

#3.) we can team up any wheel to any tire to make a specific winter package to meet your needs

use this link to order on line or call me directly

that is all

Why can't MB with traction control use Blizzark WS50 and Dunlop Graspic DS2? :confused:

Thanks

My guess is that some of the winter tires generate optimum traction in deep snow when there is some slippage, due to the tread design, which allows the tire to dig into the snow, generating traction as it does. This slippage is prevented however, by traction control.

The same argument goes for a locked tire generating more traction in deep snow than one that is ABS-modulated: the locked tire is able to dig into the snow, generating more stopping force, due to the dam of snow that forms in front of the tire. This same principle is used for the sand/gravel traps in the runoff areas of race circuits.

- just my Cdn$0.02 ...

they are so flexible the traction control thinks the tires a spinning under acceleration and attempts to correct the situation by applying the brakes causing premature brake wear

Winter Tire Question for Luke
 

Hi --

I believe I got a good deal on a set of Blizzak MZ-01's 235/45R17, marked mz01az 930.

They are supposed to be high performace winter tires, suitable for my 99 C43 but, I couldn't find any reference to them at TireRack.

Any information about these tires would be greatly appreciated.

(I bought these since the tires had only been used for one season and they came mounted on a set of 17" AMG monoblocks with one small scratch. The package cost $650 -- I couldn't resist.)

Seeing your warning about the Blizzack WS-50's I am worried that these tires are not correct for my car. Any insight would help.

Hey, what happened to the Kumho I'zen Stud KW-11? Nobody seems to have them this year. They were the top rated tire (for below H speed rating) in Consumer Report's Nov 2002 winter tire test (PDF available here , 1.7MB file). Note that they tested the KW-11 without studs and it performs very well as a studless tire. I have a set with and without studs on two of my cars, and I love them. I wanted to get a third set (205/55/16, without studs) for another car but now I can't find them. Most other decent studless tires cost about DOUBLE and I can't afford that... :(

Anyone know why the KW-11 is MIA this year? :confused:

Sorry Marc, they're *all* wrong. I guess you'll just have to sell that set to me now. I suppose I could offer you $600 for the wheels & tires... (j/k! :p :p )

Plus shipping and packing from NY they would be far too expensive :rolleyes:. Anyway, a search on this forum revealed that they were pretty good snow tires a couple of years ago. Apparently Bridgestone doesn't make this model any more. It turned out to be cheaper to buy a second hand set of monoblocks in good condition than to get one or two of mine refinished.

Regards,

Nokian
 

Luke,

I was hoping to find Nokian tires at Tire Rack, but I didn't. I ended up buying a set of their RSi model throuh a local tire shop. Many people on this forum praise their performance. Any plans on carring this brand in the future????

Yeah, and how about the missing Kumho KW-11's?

:(

bump ......

Bump is right. You never did answer my question about the missing Kumhos...

:(